What’s a ‘Story Box’ and Who’s It For? - Life.Church Leaders

What’s a ‘Story Box’ and Who’s It For?

by Leaders.Life Team

Have you ever heard of a story box? They’re as cute, fun, and helpful as they sound! They’re easy to put together, and they’re incredibly enriching tools you can add to your Buddy toolbox this week! 

What is it? 

Simply put, a story box is a collection of tangible items a child may explore to help them better learn and understand a book, video, or other teaching. The manipulatives are directly tied to the story or lesson the child is learning. They’re often stored in a small bin, bag, or (you guessed it!) box. They don’t need to be elaborate or expensive items. But more on that later!   

Who’s it for? 

A story box is incredibly helpful for a child who is blind or visually impaired. All children make sense of the world around them through play and by using all their senses. A child who is blind, visually impaired, or deafblind is working extra hard at fine tuning and learning with their tactile senses. 

Kids who have difficulties with their attention span or focus may also benefit from using a story box. The items to hold help keep the child’s hands busy, thus helping to stimulate their brain enough to focus more easily on the story they’re learning—all while directly anchoring them to the story! Think of them as on-theme fidget toys

How do I make a story box? 

Often, everyday toys or household items are perfect for the job. For example, if you were reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar, you might include a toy apple, orange, banana, grapes, etc. for the child to hold as the caterpillar eats its way through the book. 

Don’t use too many items, though. You want the child to be able to fully explore the item while they listen, not just touch it and move on. For the weekly videos in LifeKids, about 3-5 items should be plenty. 

So, what could work for an Early Childhood (Under the Sea, In the Jungle, or The Ark) video lesson? 

Take a look at this classic unit: The Donkey and the King. What would you put in the story box? 

It would be ideal to have one main item that’s always included in your story box for familiarity, no matter which lesson you’re learning. You could choose one or two items from the Picture Passes if they lend themselves well to be a tangible item. And you could choose one or two items from the Bible story as found both in the video and on the weekly story cards. 

There are no wrong answers when it comes to creating a story box! Enjoy the flexibility and choose items that you think will help anchor a child to what they’re hearing and learning. 

How do I use a story box with my little buddy? 

Use the items in the box to generate excitement! Try these tips to help you as you feel your way through using story box (or bag!) items with the children you support! 

And that’s that! Want to know what you’ll learn in the room you serve in each week so you can think about putting together a story box for the children you work with? You can find the upcoming lesson each week on leaders.life.church under each room’s main page. Talk to your LifeKids pastor for help with finding items you can use each week. 

Enjoy watching your little Buddy learn, connect with their lesson, and grow in their understanding of how very much Jesus loves them!